Months wore on, and the wisdom of Alonzo had wonderfully increased the
prosperity of King Zaphor's dominions. All the people began to respect
the stranger, and to look upon him as the husband of the Princess, and
their future sovereign. One day, as Alonzo and Serena were wandering by
the shore, they saw approaching far off on the sea, a number of large
canoes. Alonzo regarded them attentively till he felt convinced that
they were war-canoes full of warriors, intending to attack the island.
So he hurried back to collect all the fighting men to repel the enemy.
On came the canoes, and it was soon seen that Alonzo was not mistaken,
for before the fighting men of the island could assemble, they had run
upon the beach. Alonzo and a few followers were the only persons ready
to meet, the invaders, who had already formed on the sand, expecting an
easy victory. With a sharp sword in his hand--a sword forged within the
bowels of the earth, and which had been brought to him by a Sea Spirit
from an island in the Mediterranean--he rushed down among them. His
sharp sword flashed fire, as he whirled it round his head, among the
showers of arrows which flew about him, and numbers of the enemy lay cut
to pieces at his feet. Fearless of the deadly weapons aimed at him, so
rapidly did he perform his work, that all the invaders were either
destroyed or had fallen on their knees to sue for mercy before the King
and his followers could get up to the scene of action.
Thus the Island of Gracia was delivered from the greatest peril to which
it had ever been exposed. Then the King gave a banquet to commemorate
the happy event, and he summoned to it his lords and councillors, and
all the chief men of the island, and they all came and congratulated the
King on his victory.
The King, however, graciously would not claim the credit which was not
his due; but, pointing to Alonzo, who sat on his right side, told them
that they owed their freedom to him. Then, taking him by one hand, he
took Serena by the other, and informed his chiefs that he thus betrothed
those whose hearts were already one, and he inquired whether they would
consent to receive the stranger as their future chief. No sooner had
the King done speaking, than all the nobles arose, and exclaimed, "Hail
to the brave stranger, our gallant defender! hail to Prince Alonzo, the
husband of our beloved Princess, our future sovereign!"
The King was much pleased with this expression of the loyalty of his
subjects, nor was the Princess less so at their approval of a husband to
whom she was so devotedly attached. Thus the stranger Alonzo was raised
to the highest dignity of the state.
Nearly a year had passed since his arrival, when one day he espied a
large ship, under full sail, approaching the island. The people were
surprised, and many were much alarmed, for they had never before seen so
extraordinary a sight. Some thought it some mighty sea-bird, and others
some monster of the deep; but none could tell what the portend might
forbode. On the ship came, and, casting anchor, several of the crew
landed. They wandered about through the woods, singing and carousing,
and otherwise amusing themselves. When also they happened to discover
any of the cottages of the natives, they did not scruple to enter, and
to appropriate anything which struck their fancy. Alonzo was attending
to the affairs of state when news was brought him of the behaviour of
the strangers, and that they were actually approaching the precincts of
the Palace. On this he immediately sent out to put a stop to the
mischief. As he was proceeding a shriek reached his ear. He knew the
voice at once--it was that of the Princess Serena--and, rushing on with
the speed of lightning, he found her and her maidens in the rude grasp
of the strangers. When they saw him and his followers, while some held
fast the damsels, the rest advanced with arms in their hands to meet
him. As, however, they got nearer to him, instead of attempting to run
him through with their swords, they shouted out, "'Tis he! 'tis he! our
long-lost chief! Why, brave Captain Alonzo, we thought you long since
dead. What, don't you know us? Don't you remember Almagro, and Sancho,
and Pedro?"
But Alonzo looked at them as on total strangers, for, of course, he
could not remember having ever seen them before. "I know you only from
your own confession and your deeds to be wicked villains," he exclaimed;
"and I order you instantly to quit this island, or I shall hand you over
to the laws of the realm. I spare you now. Begone, but remember my
warning."
This made them very indignant. "What, not know your old friends? Come,
come, you look very magnificent, doubtless, but we cannot let you or any
other man interfere with our proceedings."
As they said this, some drew their swords, while others attempted to
drag off Serena and her maidens. The magic weapon of Alonzo was in his
hand in an instant, and as it struck the blades of the pirates, for such
they were, it shivered them to atoms. Some of the pirates were killed,
but Alonzo was merciful, and the Princess being placed in safety, he
allowed the rest to escape, as they fled before him. That day he
published a decree banishing the pirates from the island, on pain of
death if they remained. Instead of going, however, they hid themselves
among the rocks on the sea-shore, for the purpose of issuing forth at
night to weak their vengeance on one whom they supposed to have been
their chief, but who had now become their enemy.